St. augustinegrass plant named &#39;fsa1602&#39;

ABSTRACT

‘FSA1602’ is a new and distinct St. Augustinegrass ( Stenotaphrum secundatum  (Walt.) Kuntze) variety distinguished at least by its distinctive olive blue-green color, large stolon size, and good tolerance to leaf diseases.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/685,156, filed Jun. 14, 2018, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF FEDERAL RESEARCH SUPPORT

This invention was made with government support under 2015-51181-24291 awarded by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, United States Department of Agriculture (U.S.D.A.). The government has certain rights in the invention.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walt.) Kuntze.

Variety denomination: ‘FSA1602’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct asexually reproduced variety of St. Augustinegrass (Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walt.) Kuntze) designated ‘FSA1602’. ‘FSA1602’ was discovered under cultivated conditions near Gainesville, Fla. in a collection of St. Augustinegrass plants transferred to the Gainesville, Fla. location from a source collection of unknown parentage maintained at Belle Glade, Fla. ‘FSA1602’ was first asexually reproduced in 2010 by obtaining vegetative cuttings of stolons, further cutting those stolon cuttings into segments exhibiting at least one vegetative bud, and rooting those segments in potting media. Asexually reproduced plants of ‘FSA1602’ have remained stable and true to type through at least six cycles of repeated vegetative propagation. No seedling establishment from ‘FSA1602’ has been noticed in greenhouse or field trials. ‘FSA1602’ has a polyploid chromosome number similar to that of ‘Floratam’ (unpatented) and ‘Floralawn’ (unpatented).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘FSA1602’ is a perennial St. Augustinegrass, and was identified in 2010 as distinctly different from other St. Augustinegrass varieties based at least on its distinctive olive blue-green color, large stolon size, and good tolerance to leaf diseases. ‘FSA1602’ spreads by stolons and has been propagated by tillers and sod. ‘FSA1602’ can be unambiguously distinguished from the other turf grass varieties in the source collection from Belle Glade, Fla. and aneu-polyploid St. Augustinegrass varieties at least based on its distinct olive blue-green leaf color. For example, the distinct olive blue-green color of ‘FSA1602’ distinguished it from 28 other experimental lines as well as the control cultivars ‘NUF-76’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,280), ‘Floratam’ (unpatented), ‘Floraverde’ (unpatented and also designated as ‘FL-1997-6’), and ‘SS-100’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 09,395) that were grown near Gainesville, Fla. and Citra, Fla. Further, ‘FSA1602’ can be unambiguously distinguished from diploid St. Augustinegrass varieties at least based on its stolon size and courser leaf texture.

‘FSA1602’ may be used as a turfgrass that is suitable for home lawns and commercial turf applications. While ‘FSA1602’ exhibited good turfgrass performance and temperature adaptation when tested as far north as Raleigh, N.C. (U.S.D.A. hardiness zone 7b), it is best adapted to the southern and gulf coast regions of the U.S.A., including South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. Further, ‘FSA1602’ is well adapted to those regions where St. Augustinegrasses are currently grown, including regions of New Mexico, Arizona, and California, and other subtropical and tropical areas worldwide.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This new St. Augustinegrass plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs of plants grown in a Gainesville, Fla. greenhouse. The photographs show the plant's typical form, foliage, and inflorescence, and the colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

FIG. 1—Shows a stolon of the claimed plant.

FIG. 2—Shows an inflorescence, including anthers and stigmas, of the claimed plant.

FIG. 3—Shows the pedigree of the claimed plant in which it was selected as a seedling from the cross of ‘NUF-216’ (unpatented) and ‘Floraverde’. ‘NUF-216’ is a seedling from ‘FX-10’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,852) by an unknown open-pollinated male, and ‘Floraverde’ resulted from the cross of ‘FL-1997’ x ‘FL-1721’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description sets forth distinctive characteristics of ‘FSA1602’, as characterized in greenhouse and field conditions in Florida. The data that define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions. ‘FSA1602’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions, and the measurements given may vary when grown in different environments. Certain characteristics may also vary with plant age. The color descriptions provided herein are based on The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S.) Colour Chart by The Royal Horticultural Society, London, Sixth Revised Edition. If any R.H.S. color designations below differ from the accompanying photographs, the R.H.S. color designations are accurate.

Morphological Comparison of ‘FSA1602’ to Commercial Varieties:

The morphological characteristics of ‘FSA1602’ and commercial St. Augustinegrass varieties ‘SS-100’ and ‘Floratam’ were compared head-to-head in 2015 using potted plants that were approximately 6 months in age. The plants were grown and compared in a greenhouse located near Gainesville, Fla., with a nighttime low of 60° F. and daytime high of 90° F. The plants were grown under natural day length without supplemental lighting, and fertilized using a soluble fertilizer of 20-20-20 in four equal soluble applications per month, which equated to approximately one pound of nitrogen (N) per month. Leaf length (cm) and width (cm) were measured on the second fully expanded leaf below the growing meristem of a stolon. The number of lateral shoots per pot and the length of lateral shoots (cm) from the crown of the pot were measured after 3 months of regrowth. The length of the third internode below the growing meristem (cm) and the stolon diameter between the second and third internodes (mm) were also measured. Table 1 provides the measurements of these seven characteristics.

The leaves of ‘FSA1602’ exhibited a medium-fine texture, and these leaves were wider than those of ‘SS-100’ but similar to those of ‘Floratam’. The leaves of ‘FSA1602’ also exhibited a blade length that was shorter than that of ‘Floratam’ leaves but was similar to that of ‘SS-100’ leaves. The average observed length of ‘FSA1602’ internodes was shorter than that of either ‘Floratam’ or ‘SS-100’ internodes, which indicates ‘FSA1602’ exhibits a higher density of vegetative shoots in sod plots as well as a higher turfgrass density ratings than those two varieties. The average observed diameter of ‘FSA1602’ stolons was larger than that of either ‘Floratam’ or ‘SS-100’ stolons. With respect to lateral shoot growth, all three varieties produced a similar number after three months of regrowth, and there was no noticeable difference between the three varieties in the average observed length of these shoots. Most notably, ‘FSA1602’ plants displayed a distinct dark olive blue-green color that was unambiguously distinguishable from the color of ‘Floratam’ and ‘SS-100’ plants.

The following are additional unique and distinguishing characteristics exhibited by ‘FSA1602’ when grown under the above greenhouse conditions:

-   Plant:     -   -   Growth habit.—A perennial plant that spreads by stolons and             produces a dense and somewhat coarse textured turfgrass.         -   Leaf blade color adaxial leaf surface.—126B moderate bluish             green.         -   Leaf blade color abaxial leaf surface.—126B moderate bluish             green.         -   Stolon color (area under leaf sheath).—200C moderate brown. -   Inflorescence: Produces both terminal and axillary spikes, with     spikelets embedded in the flattened corky rachis. The spiklets     generally occur in pairs or, sometimes, triads.     -   -   Average raceme length.—7.0 cm.         -   Culm stalk color.—144C strong yellow green.         -   Rachis color.—146B moderate yellow green.         -   Stigma color.—N81B strong purple.         -   Anther color.—17A strong orange yellow. -   Turf quality, color, and density comparison of ‘FSA1602’ to     commercial varieties: ‘FSA1602’ has been evaluated in field plot     trials conducted near Citra, Fla. (Latitude: 29.41, Longitude:     −82.17) and Jay, Fla. (Latitude: 30.78, Longitude: −87.14). In these     trials, the turfgrass quality, color, and density of the entries     were evaluated using the industry recognized rating systems     established by the United States Golf Association (U.S.G.A.).     Turfgrass quality was rated on a “1” to “9” scale in which “9”     indicates “best,” “6” indicates “minimally accepted,” and “1”     indicates “poorest”; turfgrass color was rated on a “1” to “9” scale     in which “9” indicates the darkest green; and turfgrass density was     rated on a “1” to “9” scale in which “9” indicates “best,” “6”     indicates “minimally accepted,” and “1” indicates “poorest.” Entries     for ‘FSA1602’, ‘Floratam’, and ‘SS-100’ were established in July of     2011 from rooted plugs such that there were three replicates of each     variety at both locations, and these entries were maintained as     standard turfgrass plots that were mowed at 7.5 cm height. These     entries were regularly observed and rated through the end of 2016.     Data obtained from these trials is provided in Table 2. For the     trial near Citra, Fla., the average turf grass quality of the tested     varieties in the winter and summer of 2016 are provided. The winter     rating reflects the average of observations made in January and     February and the summer rating reflects the average of observations     made in April, September, and October. Large patch (LP) disease     (Rhizoctonia solani) was also prevalent at the Citra, Fla. location,     and the average turf grass quality of the tested varieties during     periods of large patch disease prevalence is provided. This rating     reflects the average of observations made in February and December     of 2013, and December of 2015. Also, turf quality was measured in     May of 2014 after a period of drought at the Citra, Fla. location in     which irrigation was also withheld. For the trial near Jay, Fla.,     turf quality, color, and density data is provided as an average of     the observations made in April, May, June, July, August, September,     and October of 2016, and as the average of 24 observations made over     the full duration of the 5-year trial.

At the Citra, Fla. location, ‘FSA1602’ displayed superior summer turfgrass quality in comparison to both ‘Floratam’ and ‘SS-100’; whereas, the winter turfgrass quality displayed by ‘FSA1602’ was more similar to that of ‘Floratam’ but still superior to that of ‘SS-100’. In the presence of large patch disease, the quality of ‘FSA1602’ was superior to that of ‘SS-100’ but similar to that of ‘Floratam’. In response to drought, ‘FSA1602’ maintained its quality better than ‘SS-100’ but similar to ‘Floratam’. At the trial near Jay, Fla., ‘FSA1602’ achieved superior turfgrass quality and density ratings in comparison to both ‘Floratam’ and ‘SS-100’ when the observations made over 2016 were averaged; whereas, the average turfgrass color achieved by ‘FSA1602’ was similar to that of ‘Floratam’ but superior to that of ‘SS-100’. Notably, ‘FSA1602’ also achieved superior turfgrass color, quality, and density ratings in comparison to both ‘Floratam’ and ‘SS-100’ when the observations made over the course of the five-year trial were averaged. The averages of the 24 observations made over the course of the 5-year trial also best reflects the long-term performance of these varieties, and superior long-term performance is strongly indicative of the overall merit of a turfgrass variety. Also in both field trials, the color of ‘FSA1602’ most closely resembled the color RHS 126B (moderate bluish green); whereas both ‘Floratam’ and ‘SS-100’ most closely resembled RHS N138B (moderate yellowish green).

TABLE 1 Morphological comparison of ‘FSA1602’ and commercial St. Augustine grass varieties. Leaf Leaf No. of lateral Lateral shoot Internode Stolon Variety length width shoots length length diameter ‘FSA1602’ 6.00b 0.92a 11.67a 18.50a 4.50b 3.82a ‘Floratam’ 8.50a 0.98a 10.33a 22.72a 6.22a 3.46b ‘SS-100’ 6.50b 0.78b 12.67a 18.83a 6.42a 2.80c LSD (p = 0.05) 0.6 0.06 2.50 6.95 1.23 0.15 Means in a column followed by the same letter are not significantly different at p = 0.05

TABLE 2 Turf comparison of ‘FSA1602’ and commercial St. Augustinegrass varieties at two locations. Citra, FL Jay, FL Quality Quality Color Density Quality Color Density Variety Winter Summer LP Drought 2016 2016 2016 5-year 5-year 5-year ‘FSA1602’ 5.8 7.0 7.2 7.0 7.4 7 7.6 7.1 7.0 7.2 ‘Floratam’ 4.9 5.7 6.8 6.3 6.3 6.2 6.4 5.5 6.0 5.7 ‘SS-100’ 4.2 4.5 4.3 4.7 6.1 5.5 6.3 5.8 5.7 6.1 LSD (p = 0.05) 1.3 0.7 1.2 1.3 0.6 0.8 0.5 0.8 0.3 0.6 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of St. Augustinegrass plant named ‘FSA1602’, as illustrated and described herein. 